Fence



(No Model.)

.J. M. GARRISON.

FENCE. I No. 259,525. PatentedJune 13, 1882.,

JOHN M. GARRISON, OF STILESVILLE, INDIANA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent -No. 259,525, dated June 13, 1882.

Application filed February 7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN M. GARRISON, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Stilesville, in the county of Hendricks and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Heretofore it has been common to make fences of panels having one section alternately resting upon the bars of the next section, and all nailed or attached to the slats, which were held in place by cross-bars or stakes having a log resting in the space between the upper ends and extending from one section to another. No device was provided for holding the log in place. The slats were also rigidly attached to the sills by means of nails or mortises, and sometimes both, thus making an expensive fence.

The object of my invention is to produce a cheap and durable fence, and one that will overcome the objections to the above-noted form.

Thenature of my invention therefore consists of a fence arranged as will hereinafter be described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my fence, showing one of the panels completed and the second one ready for the cross-stakes; and Fig. 2, a detail view of the top of the cross-stakes and the lever.

A A represent the rails; S, the slats; B, the sills; G G, the stakes; O, the top rail, and L the lever.

The manner of constructing the fence is as follows: The sills B are placed at regular intervals along the ground in the line intended for the fence. Upon each sill I place two slats, which are not attached thereto, but merely rest thereon. Between the slats are rails A A. The rails of one section or panel are alternatelyplaced upon the rails of the next section until the space between the top and bottom of the two slats is full. The top and bottom rails in this space are each attached to the slats by means of a nail or screw, as shown. The rails between the top and bottom ones are not fastened to the slats, but rest upon the bottom one, and lateral displacement is prevented by the slats which inclose the ends thereof. To hold the panels upon the sills I provide cross-stakes G G, the lower ends of which rest against pegs or other fixtures driven into the ground. The stakes are crossed at the top of the fence, but-not pivoted. A top rail, 0, is placed in the space between the upper ends or arms of the cross-stakes, and a lever, L, attached to one end of stake G in any suitable manner. When one section has been completed the lever is drawn down upon the top rail, 0, splaying the cross-stakes, which rest upon the upper rail of the panel, until the slats are forced tightly down upon the sills. The pegs at the base of the cross-stakes prevent the latter from slipping. When the lever has completed this work it is attached to the crossstake G, thus making a fence which is cheaper and better than any fence nowin use, as there is no mortising to be done, no crosspieces to attach, and only four nails or screws used to each section, two on the slats and two on the lever.

I am aware that fences have heretofore been made with the panels and cross-stakes attached to the sills, and a rider supported by the crotch of the cross-stakes, which are provided at their top with a cross-brace. I am also aware that solid sills with panels resting thereon, that pivoted cross-stakes with a rider held in the crotch by a cross-brace, that mortised sills with non-pivoted cross-stakes attached thereto,-

and that pivoted cross-stakes with lower ends resting against pegs driven in the ground have all been used in separate devices; but these devices differ from mine in that the cross-stakes in my device merely rest against the pegs and cross each other at the top of the panel, and are not pivoted, for the reason that when the rider has been forced down into the crotch by the brace each stake will automatically adjust itself to suit the variant heights of the panels and the different conditions of the ground by sliding upon the top of the panel and shifting A fence consisting of solid sills, of panels them together, substantially in the manner de- 10 resting upon said sills, of automatically-ad scribed, and for the purpose set forth; justing non-pivoted crQssstakes resting upon In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the top of the panel at the point where they presence of two witnesses. 5 cross, and having their lower ends resting T against pegs, of a rider resting in the crotch JOHN GARRISOA' of the cross-stakes, and of a brace attached to Witnesses: the upper ends of the cross-stakes, and which, JOSEPH WILLIAMS. when the parts have been set in place, locks J. M. BROWN. 

